Clinical Nurse - West Houston Imaging Center

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.


SUMMARY


The primary purpose of the Outpatient Clinical Nurse position is to coordinate and implement patient care across the continuum of care. The Outpatient Clinical Nurse is accountable and responsible for providing quality, evidence-based patient care through the appropriate use of resources in collaboration with the inter-professional team. Acts as a patient and family advocate to uphold patient rights. Organizes and prioritizes work of patient care team; trains, coaches and assists team members to ensure optimum patient care and efficient use of resources.

 

Shift / Hours:  Monday - Friday / 10 hour shifts / 630am - 5pm. (rotating Saturdays with one day off during the week)



 JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES



Transformational Leadership and New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvement  



Transformational Leadership: The Clinical Nurse is responsible for the provision of care to patients and families consistent with the unit’s values, beliefs, and behaviors to meet the demands of the future. 
a. Participates in daily unit operations to achieve and maintain the financial goals by utilizing all resources effectively and efficiently.
•Provides quality and fiscally responsible patient care. 
•Proactively anticipates patient and family needs in collaboration with the Charge Nurse, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Nurse Manager.
•Utilizes available material resources responsibly for direct patient care.
b. Practices autonomously within the scope of professional nursing practice – patient care competency.
c. Participates in change initiatives.
•Demonstrates loyalty and commitment to the unit’s inter-professional team.
•Incorporates the process of change in daily practice.
d. Fosters peer relationships and participates in coaching and mentoring.
e. Supports an environment that values and respects the staff and patients – patient care competency. 

New Knowledge, Innovation and Improvements: The Clinical Nurse is responsible and accountable for providing exemplary nursing practice and has an ethical and professional responsibility to contribute to innovation, improvement, and new knowledge.

a. New Knowledge
•Applies new and existing evidence in patient care standards, incorporating new knowledge, innovations, and improvements in clinical practice and the patient care delivery system – professionalism competency.
•Complies with regulatory standards.
•Fosters an environment that challenges the status quo, embraces and promotes change.
b. Innovation
•Practices within the established patient care delivery system, consistent with the Professional Practice Model.
•Demonstrates proficiency in the application of technology in providing care to patients and families.
c. Improvement
•Participates in assessing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the delivery of safe and effective patient and family care utilizing evidence-based and empirical outcome measurements.

 

Structural Empowerment 

The Clinical Nurse engages in problem solving in order to meet unit goals and achieve desired outcomes.

a. Provides feedback to the Nurse Manager, Assistant Nurse Manager and Charge Nurse, through the evaluation of performance of clerical and clinical staff.
•Supervision: Fosters an environment conducive to Just Culture by holding self and staff members accountable.
•Evaluation:  Participates in the evaluation of staff members’ clinical performance through contributions to the annual evaluation and professional development processes
•Productivity: Maximizes performance within the scope of practice to accomplish unit goals and achieve desired outcomes.
b. Demonstrates effective communication, collaboration, conflict management, and resolution – oral communication competency.
c. Contributes to an innovative environment where strong professional practice flourishes and positive patient and family outcomes are achieved.
d. Strengthens practice, builds strong relationships and develops partnerships to improve patient and family outcomes on the unit.



Exemplary Professional Practice and Empirical Outcomes  

Exemplary Professional Practice: The Clinical Nurse applies exceptional professional practice in relationship with patients, families, and the inter-professional team, and understands how new knowledge and evidence is applied.

a. Practices evidence-based, quality clinical nursing consistent with current nursing research, the Professional Practice Model, the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas, institutional and national practice standards. Adheres to the use of unit’s standard operating procedures.
b. Delivers care using a systematic approach to achieve measurable, outcome focused, patient care; identifies, implements, and evaluates opportunities for improvement.
c. Communicates and collaborates effectively with leaders, departments, other disciplines, staff members, patients, and families – professionalism competency
d. Integrates ethical principles into clinical practice
e. Maintains and integrates knowledge of current clinical practice and technological proficiency; provides clinically competent, compassionate, direct patient care consistent with the Professional Practice Model.
f. Seeks opportunities to broaden knowledge relevant to the Clinical Nurse role and healthcare through engagement in professional organizations and commitment to life-long learning.

Empirical Outcomes: The Clinical Nurse is responsible for seeking out and maintaining knowledge regarding relevant empirical outcomes, including the impact of quality improvement initiatives and institutional best practices on the patient population, nursing workforce and institution, as reflected in unit and institutional metrics.



Other duties as assigned